NS Grade 9 Term 4 Teacher Guide

EARTH AND BEYOND
SPHERES OF THE EARTH

(a) The Earth makes up a system that allows the interaction of spheres.
(b) The following are the spheres of the Earth:
i. Atmosphere – it is the
protective layer of gases.
ii. Hydrosphere – the water part
of the Earth.
iii. Lithosphere – the rock and soil
part of the Earth.
iv. Biosphere – the part of the
Earth where organisms live
and their requirements.
Answer the following questions:
1. What are the four spheres of the Earth?

____________________________________________________________________
(a) Atmosphere
(b) Hydrosphere
(c) Lithosphere
(d) Biosphere
2. Describe each of the four spheres of the Earth.

____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
(a) Atmosphere – it is the protective layer of gases.
(b) Hydrosphere – the water part of the Earth.
(c) Lithosphere – the rock and soil part of the Earth.
(d) Biosphere – the part of the Earth where organisms live and their requirements.
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NS Grade 9 Term 4 Teacher Guide

3. What is a biosphere?
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 Biosphere – the part of the Earth where organisms live and their requirements.
4. Mention organisms found in each sphere.

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 Atmosphere - animals and plants
 Hydrosphere – water animals and water plants
 Lithosphere - insects, reptiles, worms etc.
 Biosphere – all living organisms
LITHOSPHERE
(a) The lithosphere is the rocky rigid part of the Earth.

(b) The lithosphere includes soils, rocks, mountains, valleys, cliffs, land etc.
(c) The Lithosphere consists of three layers; viz. the Core, Mantle and Crust.
(d) The Inner core is solid while the outer core is liquid.
(e) The Mantle is the bigger part of the lithosphere, about 2900 km deep.
(f) The Mantle is 2900 km deep and is mainly magma with temperatures of up to 4500 °C.
(g) The Crust is the outer layer of the Earth and is like the skin of the Earth.
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(h) Elements and compounds are found in the crust.
(i) Elements found in the earth’s crust include copper, uranium, gold, silver, and
(j) Compounds producing minerals include iron oxide (hematite), silicon dioxide (sand or
quartz) and calcium carbonate (chalk, lime or marble).
1. What are the layers of the lithosphere?

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 The Core, Mantle and Crust.
2. What do we find in the crust layer of the Earth?

______________________________________________________________________
 Elements, compounds, minerals and rocks.
3. Mention five elements found in the Earth’s crust.

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 About 98 % comprise copper, uranium, gold, silver, oxygen, silicon, aluminium,
iron, calcium, sodium, potassium and magnesium
4. Which compounds are found in the lithosphere?

______________________________________________________________________
 iron oxide (hematite), silicon dioxide (sand or quartz) and calcium carbonate
(chalk, lime or marble).
5. Which metals are obtained from the compounds iron oxide, sand and calcium
carbonate?
______________________________________________________________________
 Iron (hematite), silicon (sand) and calcium
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ELEMENTS ON THE EARTH’S CRUST
Use the diagram to answer some of the questions that follow:
1. List the elements found in the Earth’s crust.

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 oxygen, silicon, aluminium, iron, calcium, sodium, potassium and magnesium.
2. What are the percentages on the elements in the Earth’s crust?
___________________________________________________________________
 oxygen 47%, silicon 28 %, aluminium 8 %, iron 5 %, calcium 4 %, sodium 3%,
potassium 2.6 % and magnesium 2%.
3. Give examples of some stones found in the Lithosphere and the main rock they
belong to.
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 Marble rock from metamorphic rock, basalt from igneous rock, sand stone
and lime stone from sedimentary rock.
4. Discuss the difference between a rock and a stone.
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 A stone would be smaller than and rock and rock is made of stone and mineral
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matter.
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ROCK CYCLE
(a) Rock cycle is a concept used by Geologists to show how the main three rocks
change from one type of rock to another.
(b) The main rock types are sedimentary, metamorphic and igneous.
(c) When heat and pressure build up around the Metamorphic Rock, it melts into
magma.
(d) Magma is the molten material that erupts during a volcano.
(e) When the magma cools down, it hardens and changes into Igneous Rock.
(f) Of the three main rocks the name Sedimentary suggests it is made from
sediments.
(g) Heat, cold, wind and water (erosion and weathering) break down rocks into
smaller particles.
(h) These particles are transported and deposited over each other as sediments.
(i) Due to pressure the layers form sedimentary rock like sandstone.
(j) Due to extreme heat, the chemical structure of the rock can change to form
metamorphic.
(k) Marble forming from limestone and slate is forming from shale.
(l) When heat builds up around the metamorphic rock, the rock melts.
(m) When the rock melts it turns to magma.
(n) Magma is the mixture of molten or semi molten rock below the Earth’s surface
from which Ingenious rock (like pumice and granite) is formed.
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(o) When magma moves towards the surface of the Earth, it is now called lava.
(p) Lava is magma that flows after it has erupted.
(q) Magma is found beneath the earth’s surface and it is a mixture of liquid rock,
dissolved gas and crystals.
Answer the following questions

1. What are the three main types of rocks?
____________________________________________________________________
• sedimentary, metamorphic and igneous
2. Explain what a rock cycle is.

____________________________________________________________________
• Rock cycle is a concept used by Geologists to show how the main three rocks
change from one type of rock to another.
3. Using the rock cycle diagram, explain how a metamorphic rock forms from a
sedimentary rock.
____________________________________________________________________
• Metamorphic rock can form from an existing rock such as the sedimentary rock
when exposed to heat and pressure
4. Discuss how heat affects the metamorphic rock.

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• The chemical structure of the rock can change under extreme heat.
5. Explain how the igneous rock forms.
____________________________________________________________________
• Igneous rock forms from the cooling down of magma and lava
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6. Looking at the diagram, what are the processes that lead to the breaking down of
rocks?
____________________________________________________________________
• Heat, cold, wind and water (erosion and weathering) break down rocks into smaller
particles.
7. What is Magma?
___________________________________________________________________
 Magma is the mixture of molten or semi molten rock below the earth’s surface.
8. Discuss the difference between Magma and Lava.

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 When Magma moves towards the surface of the Earth it is called lava so lava can
be defined as magma that flows after it has erupted
MINING OF MINERAL RESOURCES

Extracting ores
(a) Valuable minerals are extracted from the lithosphere by mining.
(b) The minerals are contained in the ore which has a high
concentration of the mineral.
(c) While some minerals have to be mined and processed, minerals
such as diamonds, sand and potash are found in their natural form.
Refining minerals
The mining of some minerals involves the physical or chemical extraction.

Iron
(a) Iron is obtained from its ores in the form of ferrous oxide and magnetite.
(b) The mining process involves digging and blasting.
(c) A blast furnace is used to refine iron from other materials that are part of the iron ore.
In the past iron was produced by heating the iron ore with charcoal.
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(d) Years ago Iron was traditionally mined in KZN and certain parts of Limpopo.
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Gold
(a) Gold in its purest form is bright and slightly reddish yellow. Gold mining starts with
breaking down the rock into smaller pieces no larger than the road gravel.
(b) The ore is then ground into powder by steel ball in rotating drums. Extracted gold is then
refined by methods such as amalgamation, cynadition, carbon-in-pulp and floatation.
(c) If the gold is still not pure, it is smelted by heating. The substance called flux is used and
it bonds with the impurities and floats on top of the melted gold.
(d) The contaminated mixture is hauled away as a solid waste.
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INVESTIGATION
Making lead (Pb) from lead oxide (PbO)

Aim: To extract lead from lead oxide
MATERIALS:
1. Lead(II) oxide (red)

2. Blowpipe
3. Charcoal block / Carbon block
4. Crucible tongs
5. Water
6. Bunsen burner / Sprit burner
7. Drinking straw (optional)
8. Spatula
9. Safety goggles
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Make a hollow in the charcoal block.

2. Keep the loose charcoal particles in the hollow.
3. Wearing safety goggles add lead oxide in the hollow.
4. Make a paste of lead oxide and charcoal particles by adding a drop or two of water.
5. Attach a straw to the blowpipe and blow into the blue flame top where the lead (II)
oxide-carbon paste is for 2 – 4 minutes.
6. Observe any change or keep blowing until there is a change.
7. Record your observations.
RESULTS:
1. What colour change did you observe in this reaction?
_____________________________________________________________________
 During heating, an orange colour should be observed
2. Write a chemical equation to represent the reaction.
_____________________________________________________________________
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2 PbO + C 2 Pb + CO2

MINING IN SOUTH AFRICA
(a) Mining is very important in South

Africa for the growth of the
economy and job creation.
(b) Mining, however, impacts
negatively on the environment.
(c) Some of the challenges include
water pollution, dumps and destroying land for farming and disturbing wild live
environment.
(d) Do a research about mining activities in South Africa. In your research to the
following:
i. Mention where the mine is.
ii. What the mine is mining.
iii. The mining method used to extract the mineral (physical or chemical)
iv. The impact of the mining activities on the environment.
v. Your research must be 4 pages at least and that must include your references.
Structure of the research

1. Topic
2. Background (research)
3. Introduction
4. Body (Details of the research)
5. Results
6. Discussions
7. Conclusion
8. Bibliography
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ATMOSPHERE
(a) The mixture of gases around the Earth constitutes the atmosphere.
(b) The atmosphere comprises Nitrogen (78%), Oxygen (21%) Carbon
dioxide (1% or less) and other gases (1%).
(c) The density of gas particles decreases with altitude.
(d) The four layers of the atmosphere are (as you go up):
Troposphere
(a) It extends to 10 km above Earth surface with more than 70 % of atmospheric gases.
(b) The weather occurs in this region.
(c) Organisms live in the region.
Stratosphere
(a) It ranges between 10 – 50 km above the Earth’s surface.
(b) It has a very thin air.
(c) Temperature changes (decreases) with altitude.
(d) The ozone layer (O3) which protects life from the harmful ultraviolet light is in this
region.
(e) Aeroplanes fly in this sphere.
(f) Temperature can be calculated as: Temperature at a point + 1 ◦C per 100 m.
Mesosphere
(a) It extends from 50 – 80 km
about the surface of the Earth.
(b) It has thin air and cold
temperatures.
(c) Rocks (shooting stars) burn in
this sphere.
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Thermosphere
(a) It starts at about 80km to about 350km above the surface of the Earth.
(b) International Space Station is hosted in this region.
(c) International Space Station serves as research laboratory for different fields of science
including astronomy, physics and biology. It is in orbit at 330 – 450 km.
(d) In the thermosphere radio waves are reflected back to Earth for TV and radio broadcast.
1. Which layer is closest to the Earth’s surface?

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 The Troposphere.
2. What is the range of this sphere?

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 10 km above Earth surface
3. What is the composition of gases in this sphere?
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 The atmosphere comprises Nitrogen (78%), Oxygen (21%) Carbon dioxide (1% or less)
and other gases (1%).
4. Mention the other three spheres in their correct order and their range.
________________________________________________________________________
 Stratosphere 10 – 50 km above the Earth’s surface
 Mesosphere 50 – 80 km
 Thermosphere 80 – about 350 km above the Earth’s surface
5. In which sphere do we find the ozone layer?

________________________________________________________________________

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The stratosphere
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6. What is the function of the ozone layer?
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 It protects life from the harmful ultraviolet light.
7. The temperature in a town is 21°C at an altitude of 30 metres. If you go up by 200 metres

to reach a height of 230m, what will be the temperature at that point?
________________________________________________________________________
 Temperature can be calculated as: Temperature at a point + 1 ◦C per 100 m.
 At 30 metres temperature is 21°C
 At 230 m = 21°C + (1 ◦C per 100 m) x 2
= 23°C
8. Explain the details of the Mesosphere.
________________________________________________________________________
 It has thin air and cold temperatures. It has thin air and cold temperatures. Rocks
(shooting stars) burn in this sphere.
9. Discuss the relationship between height and the density of gas particles.
________________________________________________________________________
 The density of gas particles decrease with altitude.
10. What is the relationship between temperature and altitude?

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 Temperature decreases altitude until in the troposphere
10. Discuss the conditions in the Thermosphere.
________________________________________________________________________
 The conditions in the thermosphere are extremely high / very hot to 2000 ⁰C.
◦
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11. What is the International Space Station?
________________________________________________________________________
 International Space Station is a large spacecraft that is home to astronauts which
serves as research laboratory for different fields of science including astronomy,
physics and biology.
12. Discuss the importance of the ISS.

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 It provides an opportunity for scientists to do research.
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THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT
(a) The lower part of the atmosphere

(troposphere) and the surface of the
Earth are kept warm by the greenhouse
effect.
(b) The greenhouse effect is caused by the
presence of carbon dioxide, methane,
carbon dioxide and other gases.
(c) These gases are known as greenhouse gases.
(d) The average temperature of the Earth (global warming) gradually increases as the
volume of greenhouse gases increases.
(e) Global warming leads to: shortages of food, change in climate, rise in sea levels and
mass extinction.

1. What is the greenhouse effect?
_________________________________________________________________________
 The greenhouse effect is the Earth’s natural process to trap the heat of the Sun.
2. Which gases are known as greenhouse gases?

_________________________________________________________________________
 water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, ozone and nitrous oxide.
3. What is global warming?

_________________________________________________________________________
 Global warming is the gradual change in the average temperatures of the Earth due
to the increase in the volumes of greenhouse gases.
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4. Discuss the relationship between greenhouse gases and global warming.
_________________________________________________________________________
 The average temperature of the Earth (global warming) gradually increases as the
volume of greenhouse gases increases
5. Discuss the effect of global warming.
_________________________________________________________________________
 Global warming leads to: shortages of food, change in climate, rise in sea levels and
mass extinction
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BIRTH, LIFE AND DEATH OF STARS
(a) Stars exist for a defined period.

(b) Stars are born in nebulae.
(c) A nebula is a cloud of gas and dust floating in space.
(d) One cloud is called a nebula and more than one are called
nebulae.
(e) The nebulae collapse under gravitational pull.
(f) At the right temperature, nuclear fusion changes hydrogen to helium.
(g) They are the reason for the beautiful colourful red, blue and green glowing swirls of
light.
(h) The nebulae are mainly made of hydrogen, 10 % helium and a small fraction of other
elements.
1. Where are stars born?

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• Stars are born in the nebulae
2. What is a nebula?
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 A nebula is a cloud of gas and dust floating in space. Some nebulae (more than one
nebula) emerge from the explosion of a dying star.
3. Discuss how hydrogen changes to helium.

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 Nuclear fusion changes hydrogen to helium. (Nuclear fusion occurs when pressure
forces atoms of elements to come together or fuse.
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4. What is nuclear fusion?
_________________________________________________________________________
 Nuclear fusion is the collision that occurs between light nuclei (plural for nucleus) to
form a heavier nucleus.
5. Relate the colour of the stars to their ages.

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 Young stars would appear bluer since they are hot with more fuel to burn and the aging
stars would appear redder since they are running out of fuel hence emitting less
energy.
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LIFE OF A STAR
(a) A star’s life cycle depends on the matter it carries.

(b) The size of the star is determined by the matter available during its formation.
(c) It begins with the hydrogen gas held together by gravity making it to spin.
(d) As it spins it heats and turns into a prostar and later a star.
(e) Large stars use their energy faster and do not live long and small stars live longer for the
same reason.
(f) Blue looking stars are hotter and of a younger age than red looking stars.
(g) The Sun is said to be have a 9 billion life span and it is halfway that.
(h) Stars change hydrogen to helium and once they are out of energy, they swell up to form
a “red giant.”
(i) A star can become brighter that it normally is and explode.
(j) The explosion of a super red giant is known as a supernova.
(k) A super nova can form when two stars come closer and one star stealing matter from
the other star and ending up exploding from too much matter.
(l) A supernova can also from when super giant star runs out of nuclear fuel and its core
collapses followed by an explosion.
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1. What does the life cycle of a star depend on?

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 A star’s life cycle depends on its size and matter it carries. The bigger the star the more
fuel it uses and the shorter its life cycle.
2. What determines the size of a star?

_________________________________________________________________________
 The size of the star is determined by the matter available during its formation.
3. What happens when to the hydrogen gas held by gravity spins?

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 It spins it heats and turns into a prostar and later a star.
4. From the diagram, where does the red giant originate from?
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 It originates from an average star.
5. What is the life span of the Sun?

______________________________________________________________________
 The Sun is said to be have a 9 billion life span.
6. What is a supernova?
______________________________________________________________________
 A supernova is a very bright and powerful explosion from a dying star.
7. Discuss the difference between the formation of a red giant and a Red Supergiant.
______________________________________________________________________
 A red giant is formed from an average star while a red supergiant forms from a massive
star.
8. What happens to stars once they are out of energy?
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 They die
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DEATH OF A STAR
(a) Stars depend on energy generated from nuclear reaction.

(b) The core of the star contracts and turn into a white dwarf once it
runs out of energy.
(c) The stars do not die the same way.
(d) Small stars die peacefully turning into white dwarfs.
(e) The death of giant stars is followed by a huge explosion known as the supernova.
(f) This would sometimes result in a black hole.
(g) When the hydrogen that fuels nuclear reactions begin to run out, the star starts dying.
(h) The stars would eventually change colour and become red giants
1. Where do stars get their energy?

_________________________________________________________________________
 From nuclear reactions
2. Explain what happens to a star once it runs out of energy.
_________________________________________________________________________
 The core of the star contracts and turn into a white dwarf once it runs out of energy.
3. Explain how small stars die.

_________________________________________________________________________
 Small stars die peacefully turning into white dwarfs.
4. What is a supernova?
_________________________________________________________________________
 The death of giant star which is followed by a huge explosion.
5. Discuss what happens when stars eventually run out of energy.

_________________________________________________________________________
 When the hydrogen that fuels nuclear reactions begin to run out, the star starts dying.
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EARTH AND BEYOND

SPHERES OF THE EARTH

Answer the following questions:

1. What are the four spheres of the Earth?

2. Describe each of the four spheres of the Earth.